Whether the motivation is money, creating something to share with others, or providing a needed service, most children have entrepreneurial ideas. Sometimes, these dreams become a successful reality seemingly overnight. Those are rare cases. Most successful micro businesses take research, planning and hard work. With some guidance, an interesting idea can become a great business. A great place to find that guidance is in the curriculum Micro Business for Teens by Carol Topp, CPA.
Summer provides a great opportunity to launch a micro business (unless, perhaps the business is snow removal *grin*). We were very excited to receive for review the full curriculum consisting of three books. There are two books for reading – Starting a Micro Business ($9.95 print/$4.95 ebook) and Running a Micro Business ($9.95 print/$4.95 ebook). The third book is the Micro Business for Teens Workbook ($14.95 print/$9.95 ebook).
The Micro Business for Teens curriculum is self-teaching — it is written to the learner. The workbook provides the place to work through each chapter after reading it. I have been involved minimally. My daughter working through this is 13 and starting to really be responsible for her own work. I have looked through the books for the purpose of this review, but she is working through this on her own. This would make a great course for a co-op setting, too (group discounts available!). If you are looking for some sort of teacher’s guide, there is a free 47-page pdf to download from the website. This has a sample syllabus to cover the material in 14 weeks, discussion guide for the video of the same name (available on YouTube or DVD), and educational standards for each chapter. It was interesting to look through, but not something that fits our individual homeschool needs. Again, this would be a great resource for someone teaching/guiding this in a group setting.
The Micro Business for Teens Workbook covers the material in both books, Starting and Running a Micro Business. The books are written as stand-alone guides. This can be a bit confusing when it comes to the chapter numbers in the workbook and the corresponding chapter of the text. For the Starting a Micro Business book, everything matches up: same chapter numbers and titles. When it comes to the Running a Micro Business book, the workbook continues the numbering with 8 (the first book is chapters 1-7). The chapter titles are the same or similar enough to not get too confused. It was just one of those things that really bugged my girl. A few of the last chapters are combined in the workbook. In the text, chapter five covers bookkeeping and six discusses software. The workbook has these combined into one chapter. The same for the two chapters discussing Legal Names and Numbers and Reducing Risk – they become Names, Numbers and Insurance. When going through the workbook, it is clear on the pages what chapter from the text is being referenced.
In looking through the texts – I keep referring to them as that, but they don’t have the same “feel” as traditional textbooks – there are a few things I especially liked. At the end of each chapter is a bullet point summary. Occasionally, the author shares her own recommendations – this more than just the “facts”. While the decisions will vary with the each learner – what type of business, etc., they can still be reading and working through the lessons. My daughter is still working with a few ideas for a business, yet she can continue working and learning about the types of records to keep, how to figure start-up expenses, etc.
Generally, my teen daughter will discuss things with me rather than writing. We found, however, that this really requires more writing. It’s not like her history studies that we can do orally. The type of information being worked through: ideas generated, brainstorming, numbers and figures, etc. really need to be put on paper. My girl didn’t complain a bit. She didn’t even realize (other than Mama telling her to do it) that this was school work. Even if the business doesn’t come to fruition, applying skills in this way has been fun for her – and is a wonderful learning experience.
This curriculum, Micro Business for Teens, is recommended for ages 10-18 (though I think someone older could benefit as well). My tween daughters are anxious to start a business together – making and selling jewelry. They will work through this course first. All I need to purchase is their own workbooks. I will probably have to be a bit more involved with their work. I love that this can be used over and over with other children and that the information will apply no matter the type of business venture they dream up!
